For ladies...solid nodules on mammo and ultrasound...scared

[jobhunter]

I am 39 with no history of really any kind of cancer on my mother's side (don't know about my father's). Three weeks ago I started feeling a tightness in my left breast, deep itchiness, and pain. I am on a new pill that does not allow me to get my period so I thought maybe that was the problem. I have also been told I have fibrocystic breasts many years ago (and experienced that same tight feeling then) but I gave up caffeine and they stopped saying that, they just said I had dense breasts.

My ob/gyn wanted me to get a diagnostic mammo and an u/s and then I went to see him right after. The results of my tests were not ready yet. All he felt were fibrocystic changes, no lumps or anything that worried him, but due to my symptoms and him being a good doctor, he sent me to a breast specialist to check me out.

She did not feel anything either but the u/s revealed 2 solid nodules, one 8 mm and one 7 mm. The smaller one is oval, which she said is good. The larger one is round, but she said had smooth edges.

Today I got a biopsy and now I am just filled with anxiety. My mother in law works at my GP's office and when they got last week's reports today she called me because she was worried. She said that the u/s had recommended a biopsy but the mammo had said all was fine.

Does anyone have any reassuring experiences to share? I have to wait until like Monday or Tuesday for results. I am so anxious!!! Do they often recommend biopsies, is that routine, or am I likely in trouble here?

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I am 44 and this has happened to me twice. Once in my twenties and once three years ago. Both times it turned out to be nothing. Deep breath sweetie. It will be okay!

 

[nancygirl1]

When I was 39 my doctor recommended that I have a baseline mammogram. I have no history of breast cancer in my family and I had no complaints and there were no issues. She just wanted me to have one.

When I had my mammo they found a mass that was very far in almost against my chest wall. They sent me for an ultra-sound right away. I was terrified. They verified the mass was there and said that I had to have a needle biopsy.

Like you, they told me that it was rounded and smooth. It didn't appear suspicious, but they wanted to check it and make sure. I had the biopsy the following week and everything ended up being fine. But, they told me that I needed to have it removed because in about 10-15 years it would probably be cancer. I had it removed.

10-15 years seemed like such a long way off then, but now it's been 12 years and I'm glad that I did it. I could never have left it in there.

Hang in there. It's not always the worst case scenario.

 

[clarabelle]

I have had mammo, ultrasound and biopsy- scared me too -but I am fine
No cancer

I now have to get every 6 months mammograms and exams

 

[Pakey]

I have advanced stage breast cancer. I've been dealing with it for 6 years. Even if your biopsy is worst case, which it probably isn't, treatments have come so far and there are so many options that there is no need to let terror get the best of you. Even with this crap I still have a high chance of dying of old age instead of cancer.

Try not to let your imagination run away on you. I try to always remember that those minutes, hours, days I spend scared or worrying are days I could have spent laughing and enjoying life.

I hope you get great results!

 

[Angelrose]

Most likely nothing to worry about. I had the same thing in my right breast for years. I never bothered to have a mamo done for years until my DIL threatened bodily harm if I didn't get one done. I had one done and they found the same hardness on the left side. I told them it was just the way my body is. But being a careful dr. he ordered a biopsy ( which didn't hurt a bit) and it came out as nothing.

So take a deep breath and smile. You will be fine.

 

[Nolcrest]

I have advanced stage breast cancer. I've been dealing with it for 6 years. Even if your biopsy is worst case, which it probably isn't, treatments have come so far and there are so many options that there is no need to let terror get the best of you. Even with this crap I still have a high chance of dying of old age instead of cancer.

Try not to let your imagination run away on you. I try to always remember that those minutes, hours, days I spend scared or worrying are days I could have spent laughing and enjoying life.

I hope you get great results!

I love your positive post. It was exactly one year ago I was diagnosed w/breast cancer. The positive people around me helped me to keep my own sanity.

OP, I totally understand the anxiety you are going thru. Remain positive and it's true that treatments have come a long way if you ever need to take that route. For me, the anticipation of procedures & treatment was much worse than the actual treatment itself.

I wish you all the best.

 

[lightmoonstone]

I'm 24 and they found two in my left breast when I was nineteen. It also turned out to be nothing, but, with that being said, I feel you. I know that I was scared right up to the time I got my results, so I empathize with your anxiety(I cried when the doctor gave me my results and I am a med student, so you'd think I'd be calm, but nope!). The best advice I can give you is to try to find someone you trust to talk to about your fears, believe it or not it will make you feel better.

I hope you get good results :

 

[DebbieB]

I am 39 with no history of really any kind of cancer on my mother's side (don't know about my father's). Three weeks ago I started feeling a tightness in my left breast, deep itchiness, and pain. I am on a new pill that does not allow me to get my period so I thought maybe that was the problem. I have also been told I have fibrocystic breasts many years ago (and experienced that same tight feeling then) but I gave up caffeine and they stopped saying that, they just said I had dense breasts.

My ob/gyn wanted me to get a diagnostic mammo and an u/s and then I went to see him right after. The results of my tests were not ready yet. All he felt were fibrocystic changes, no lumps or anything that worried him, but due to my symptoms and him being a good doctor, he sent me to a breast specialist to check me out.

She did not feel anything either but the u/s revealed 2 solid nodules, one 8 mm and one 7 mm. The smaller one is oval, which she said is good. The larger one is round, but she said had smooth edges.

Today I got a biopsy and now I am just filled with anxiety. My mother in law works at my GP's office and when they got last week's reports today she called me because she was worried. She said that the u/s had recommended a biopsy but the mammo had said all was fine.

Does anyone have any reassuring experiences to share? I have to wait until like Monday or Tuesday for results. I am so anxious!!! Do they often recommend biopsies, is that routine, or am I likely in trouble here?

I've had to go back for ultrasounds because of cysts and luckily they could tell from the ultrasound that they were OK but I still worried that maybe they were wrong. It sounds like they are just trying to be cautious. I think having a biopsy is better than just wait and see. That way you know and it's not hanging over your head. I had a coworker who they said that they thought it was fine and to get another mammo in 6 months. Well in 6 months it had grown and was cancer. So being proactive is the way to go.

 

[3boymthr]

You are certainly not alone in having a scare. I know bunch of ladies who have had lumps and had them be benign and only a couple who've ended up with cancer. Hoping for your sake it's nothing.

I've even had my own scare when I was 27. I have always had lumpy breasts. When I was pregnant I started bleeding from my N*****, with blood spots in my bra every day and one of my lumps got quite prominent. OB/GYN suspected might be cancerous. They did a U/S (No mamo because of baby). Luckily it turned out benign but in the meantime It was Very Scary.

 

[Aladora]

Does anyone have any reassuring experiences to share? I have to wait until like Monday or Tuesday for results. I am so anxious!!! Do they often recommend biopsies, is that routine, or am I likely in trouble here?

First off, take a deep breath. No matter what the results are, you can handle it.

Remember that 80% of all breast lumps are benign and nothing to worry about.

I was 34 when I was dx with stage 3, grade 2b breast cancer and as you can see below in my ticker, that was almost 6 years ago.

Oh, that seemingly endless wait for results, that was the almost unbearable part! I had to wait 8 days from biopsy to pathology report...and that was after waiting almost 6 weeks for my mammogram appointment! I went in for my mammogram, was immediately sent for an ultrasound and then was asked to wait for someone to come and do the core biopsy right away.

I really hope you get some good news next week but even if it is bad news, you can and will get through this!

 

[jobhunter]

Thank you to everyone who responded. I am trying not to freak out but it is very hard. I am going to get a copy of that ultrasound report so I can see for myself what the radiologist said while I am waiting. Please cross your fingers.

 

[jobhunter]

Still waiting on biopsy but I got copies of the U/S and mammo. The mammo said extremely dense tissue with one benign appearing lymph node in the left axillary tail, no other abnormalities, looked very similar to my baseline mammo from 5 years ago. Assessment:benign.

U/S found two solid nodules without hypervascularity but with posterior shadowing, moderate suspicion of malignancy.

 

[DebbieB]

Any updates on your biopsy?